25th September 2016 – WIA Board agrees to audit

This has been a busy week for the WIA Board and I know that my co-director Paul VK5PAS and I have clocked up many hours of work in relation to two Board teleconferences that have taken place.

We are fully aware of the concerns being voiced by a few that we are just disruptive troublemakers.

This is far from the truth. We just have major concerns about the state of the WIA in terms of finances, governance, procedures and practice.

Last Tuesday, Paul attempted to put a motion but after nearly an hour of discussion this didn’t happen. The board agreed to adjourn to a later date.

On Friday evening a further teleconference was held and as announced on the WIA website:

“Two directors proposed a motion calling for a financial audit and review of operations of the Institute by a registered auditor for the years 2014, 2015 and 2016.

That proposed motion was amended during the meeting to require at least two fixed quotations that would identify the significant costs involved and that the motion be put to members.

The amended motion was passed unanimously, and a general meeting of members will be called to vote on whether the proposed review and audit should proceed.”

In the opinion of Paul and I, this an excellent outcome. We appreciate that such an audit and review for 2014, 2015 and 12016 will be an expensive exercise, but we are of the view that this is essential to get a clear picture of exactly how the institute has been performing, how we are positioned at the present financially and also in terms of risk management as well as guidelines to develop best practice in corporate governance and up to date accounting standards and principles.

The audit will also report on the appropriateness or otherwise of oral or written contracts that the WIA has entered into for the last three years.

We also believe that the report is likely to confirm that the Board requires restructure to become the executive of the WIA rather than the management and that a restructured committee structure of volunteers will all add to a reduction of criticism that the WIA has had recently.

If my comments are widely published as they have been then there will likely be a flurry of activity on social media, this issue cannot be resolved in that forum.

It is important that you recognise that the Board has moved forwards so that a considered decision on the future of the WIA can be made. The membership must decide at the general meeting on the cost benefit of this exercise.